Nes Artist Residency

General information

Brief description of organisation

Nes artist residency is an international mixed media / inter-disciplinary residency located in Skagaströnd,Iceland; a small fishing village in the Northern region of Iceland.

In 2008, Nes was established and opened by the local townspeople of Skagaströnd with Reykjavik artist Hrafnhildur Sigurðardóttir.

Skagaströnd has traditionally been a trading and fishing town and therefore not surprising that the residency’s studios are located in a former fishing plant.

Nes artist residency seeks to promote an atmosphere of creativity, experimentation, by providing a working environment that supports the artistic process and the facilities for artists to work and interact.

We know that the natural setting; the harbour, northern lights, midnight summer sun, volcanoes, glaciers, mountains and surrounding nature inspires, and enhances the creativity of the artists who come to Nes. We endorse all this by providing artists with an uninterrupted time for work and exploration.

Organisation founded in

2008

Brief description of residency program

Nes Artist Residency aims to develop cross-pollination of ideas and welcomes visual artists, dancers, musicians, designers, researchers, writers, and professional creative individuals/duos/couples and families of all disciplines to Skagaströnd for residencies lasting 1 to 6 months.

In addition to our normal residency program and in different facilities in town we now offer year round group residencies for 2 or 4 week duration and longer by negotiation. Artist collectives, university groups, writers, art classes, performance groups and other arts organisations that wish to collaborate on projects or work together on common goals/themes can now apply.

Nes is a process-oriented residency that strives to cultivate an environment where artists can craft their experience as they wish; whether that may be through conceptual development, research, or intervention and experimentation, artists have the utmost freedom while in residence at Nes. The residency’s structure is therefore left open in order to cater to individuality and spontaneity. We work to provide a safe space where all art forms, intellectual and creative pursuits, methods of artistic investigation and aesthetic inquiry are accepted, nurtured, and celebrated.

As a remote residency located in a unique, stunning, and challenging environment, Nes encourages artists to draw inspiration from place and take advantage of the solitude (and presence) our surrounding environment provides. Nes allows all artists to enter into an immersive space so that the artistic process can develop and thrive. Beyond our studio walls, we aim to provide opportunities for international and artistic exchange. We also encourage and welcome community engagement; Nes has an intimate relationship to the community of Skagaströnd, and places emphasis on collaboration of all kinds.

Nes encourages artists to experiment, and push themselves into new territory enabling failure or success in order to gain new ground outside of their usual artistic context.

The residency has communal studio spaces for 12-16 artists each month plus alternate spaces suitable for writers, performers and musicians.

We encourage artists of all métiers, both emerging and professional, to join us at Nes with a sense of curiosity and drive to connect with this special place as part of a personal experience and artistic development.

Residency program since

2008

Disciplines and media

Visual Art

Educational Programmes

New Media

Animation

Printmaking

Curatorial

Administrative

Film Making

Architecture

Sculpture

Ceramics

Dance

Theatre

Performing Arts

Textile Art

Music

Literature

Type of organisation

Artist-Run

Independent Association/Foundation

Residency conditions

Duration of residencies

between 1 and 3 months

Number of artists resident at one time

between 11 and 16

Companions allowed

Children

Partners

Grants available

See our website for information about available grants, funded programs, calls for sponsored/curated artists, or upcoming programs http://www.neslist.is
By signing up to our newsletter you will receive notices of our funded residencies, news, or opportunities for artists in Iceland or Europe.

Expenses paid by artist

Travel

Supplies

Food

Expectations of the artist

Presentation

Cleaning

Artists are expected to work independently and on self sufficient projects, the residency has limited staff support and all documentation and construction of the work is the responsibility of the artist. Artists are expected to abide by the house rules, and maintain a clean and positive environment for their fellow artists.

Expenses paid by the organisation

Housing

Application who/how

Digital Application

Selection procedure

By Curator

Presentation of artists' work

Arranged on a case-by-case basis

Description of residency

Setting

Ruralsmall fishing village

Resources

Internet Connection

Dance / Performance Practice Space

Library

Office

Kitchen

Computer

Ceramics Facilities

Woodworking Tools

Number of studios

between 11 and 16

Type and size of studios

Shared Studio

Accomodation

Private Room

Shared Apartment

Working language(s)

English

Other activities happening at the space

Workshops

Presentation

Films

Nes will sometimes run a mentorship program between resident artists and art students in the village.

How to reach

By train

There are no trains in Iceland.

Please, note that arriving at Nes is only possible during the day time and on weekdays for artists. For those of you who arrive by bus you will have to catch the 9am bus in Reykjavik (this is usually not possible when arriving into Iceland the morning of the same day).

PLEASE CALL STRAETO BUSES: (+354) 540 2700 TO BOOK YOUR SHUTTLE BUS CONNECTION FROM BLÖNDUÓS TO SKAGASTRÖND preferably the day before or the morning before leaving Reykjavík.

Five golden steps:
1- call Stræto on (+354) 540 2700 to book the bus connection from Blönduós to Skagaströnd You can also ask them questions if you need, they speak English.

2 - catch a cab to Mjödd station no later than 08:15am from downtown (25 min cab ride & about 3000ISK from downtown/BSÍ - taxis take card payment) OR catch a city bus from downtown at Hlemmur station (much cheaper - carry coins).

3- get on bus 57 to Akureyri (far side of road, diagonally opposite from info centre)

4 - transfer to the shuttle car at Blönduós (after 4 hours drive) to the little van/car with the "S" in the front windscreen.

5 - show your bus receipt/ticket to the shuttle car driver along with your street address (which we will email you).

By plane

There are two main airlines that fly to Iceland, Icelandair and WOW, and they both land in Keflavík International airport.

Alternately, if you are flying from Scandinavia, you may have airlines that fly into Akureyri, during the summer months which is closer to Skagaströnd, only a 2 hour drive/bus.

Over summer there may be other airlines like EasyJet, Ryan Air or others.

By car

1. Most of the car rentals allow you to pick up the car at Keflavík airport. To drive to Skagaströnd from Keflavík you first take road 41 to Reykjavík and then follow the signs to road 1 (the ring road) in direction Akureyri.

2. When you are on road 1 you drive until you come to Blönduós (about 250 km from Reykjavík). Just after you come through Blönduós you make a left turn to road 74 and 23 km later you are in Skagaströnd.